Understanding and Characterizing Labor Trafficking Among U.S. Citizen Victims

Labor trafficking in the U.S. tends to be concentrated around certain trades, specifically occupations that are especially risky or require a tremendous amount of physical effort. Research on U.S. citizen victims of labor trafficking has been scarce. Although studies have mainly focused on undocumented immigrant labor trafficking, the labor trafficking of U.S. citizens certainly occurs, and specific groups are thought to be at higher risk. People of lower socio-economic backgrounds and levels of education, those with cognitive disabilities, youths who have run away, and those who suffer from drug addiction and homelessness are believed to be particularly vulnerable to this type of exploitation. National Institute of Justice-supported researchers set out to understand how U.S. citizens experience labor trafficking victimization, examine the personal and structural vulnerabilities that put them at risk for labor trafficking, and explore how U.S. citizen labor trafficking victims seek help or exit exploitative labor situations.